Lammermuirs Horse Endurance ride, Broom Wagon 30km ride...

Sunday  seen a 30km hot and very sweaty cycle in the Lammermuirs as Broom Wagon  while de marking the course of the SERC Borders  Horse Endurance ride at Longformacus. Francis was vetting for the day so i offered to help out,
Typical me i never had enough food to eat the evening before, during the ride, and only a 750mm bottle of water which was not enough to cycle this distance with the climbing involved in this muggy heat,.
I sweated buckets and felt a bit ill afterwards, but if you saw the smiles of the people riding today appreciate and say thanks for helping, along with a superb 30km loop of superb views of hills that greeted the riders, well that was ace being a great cycle and makes the day worthwhile being a volunteer to help out for other people.
Life is not just about yourself all the time, but to sometimes do things to help out other people.
My thanks for today for de-marking the course was a rosette!, never had a rosette before for doing something on a bike!, thank you!
This 30km loop was a fun and scenic ride even if in too warm conditions,
Anyone fancy a Fatbike XC loop? this is ideal,
Anyone fancy a drop bar XC loop?, this is ideal,
Anyone fancy an any type bike offroad XC loop?, this is an ideal cycle taking in gravel roads, grassy roads, peaty single track, open moorland, and grassy trails....


Sadly Mowgli couyld not run free off the lead due to sheep grazing so slept in the sun while Francis Vetted!...

I did the first gate at checkpoint A until the last horses went through then closed the gate and all others on the route behind as i lifted the signs and markers, dropping them at any road side check points...

And here come all the riders!    :)

The route description...

 And map...

Off we go around the loop, from the Reservoir it was up and around Scar Law...

Then drop down to the Dye Water..

The pleasure ride headed up the opposite side of the valley between Lamb Hill and  Black Hill..

Dropped of the first load of bamboo canes lifted as i reached the burn, then followed the 30km loop along the gravel road...

To the south on the hill is this track, what a cracking descent!, need to go up there sometime!...

Onward...

Leaving the valley floor and a real steep gravel road climbed up Meikle Law-known locally as `Muckle Law` i would vouch for that as i winched up in 1st gear!, the track soon turn to peat and heather as we crossed below the summit on the west side...

The view has changed here forever with the building of Wind Turbines...

Don`t look down... :)

Dropping down to the Pylon track...

Need an old Golf `Pencil` bag for carrying these bamboo canes!, up a steep climb.,..

Then a gradual mile and a half descent on the pylon road...

Was a giggle bombing down hill and the breeze pulling the canes on my left and the checkpoint sign on the bar with my right hand!...

Signs and canes dropped off and gates shut it was along the road to join an historic track-part of the old Herring road from Dunbar to the Borders...

When the grass is long this is a tough climb up to the gate above Kilpallet cottage and over Lamb Hill...

Big sky day, with great views up here...

Up over to Horseupcleugh and a big load of poles!...

Just follow the tracks...

And dropped all the markers and signs at the roadside of check point F.
I did not need to lift the last section so cut up over back to the reservoir to meet Francis and soon were headed home...

:)